SANTA MARIA, the middle stop between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is the largest city by population and geographic area in Santa Barbara County, California. The valley enclosing this city stretches from the Santa Lucia Mountains in the east, all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the west. Situated in this part of the United States is a local congregation of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) whose members have steadfastly maintained their zeal for five decades.

In the early 70s, the Church members residing in Santa Maria then drove for more than three to four hours just to attend the worship services in the local congregations of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Delano. After some time, the brethren in Santa Maria started to conduct committee prayers with a group of Church officers from the Local Congregation of Oxnard, a nearer congregation. The committee prayers were held at the residences of Brother Ed Rabe and Sister Nieves Jacob.

On March 24, 1973, a worship service was held at the Santa Maria Public Library. With the approval of the Church Administration, this also marked the establishment of the Local Congregation of Santa Maria. The worship service was attended by a number of brethren from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Edwards Air Force Base, Oxnard, Delano, and Long Beach, as well as a number of visitors from Santa Maria. Brother Edward M. Maranan was assigned as the congregation’s resident ministerial worker.

During the first few months, brethren in Santa Maria found it difficult to find a permanent place of worship. Back then, the worship services were held in various places, often going to lodges and other members’ houses. This, however, did not stop the brethren from holding on firmly to what God can do for them. So, they did not stop their devotional prayers.

In 1979, their prayers were answered. They found an old chapel located at 214 North Vine Street and was up for sale back then. The brethren felt that they had found an ideal place of worship because it had a huge main hall, a basement for the offices, and a compound where they could hold Church activities.

The Church Administration approved the renovation of the building and on March 24, 1979, six years after the local congregation’s establishment, the house of worship of the Local Congregation of Santa Maria was dedicated to God. The house of worship dedication was led by Brother Paulino B. Membrere.

With the help of the Almighty God and the determined efforts of the brethren there, Church membership in the Santa Maria Local Congregation, now part of the Ecclesiastical District of Central Valley, California, continued to expand and grow in number. The work of propagation even reached the neighboring town of Lompoc, which is about 30 miles south of Santa Maria.

Throughout the years, the Local Congregation of Santa Maria has been united with the Church Administration in the vast endeavors of the Church. The brethren have always actively participated in the work of sharing the true faith, as well as in the Christian Family Organizations activities for the edification of the faith of the brethren. They have also participated in many socio-civic activities, such as community and coastal cleanup drives, outreach programs, and vaccination drives.

For half a century now, Church Of Christ members in the Local Congregation of Santa Maria continue to receive spiritual blessings from the Almighty Father. Brethren in this local congregation are truly thankful that He continuously grants them the strength that they need to remain steadfast and zealous in their services to Him through the years.